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Meat Plants Accused Of Dropping Slaughter Rates

IRELAND – Meat plants are being accused of lowering slaughter rates with the intention of artificially affecting supplies and pulling beef prices at a time when UK demand is strong.

Henry Burns, National Livestock Chairman for the Irish Farmers Association said that with beef prices to England at around €5.00/kg the actions of the factories are unjustifiable.

Favourable weather is helping steak demand in the UK - Ireland’s main beef export market. This can be extended to the rest of Europe which is currently seeing strong demand for hindquarter products with fillets and striploins heavily sought after, he explained.

The IFA has urged vendors to address supply woes immediately by putting more live cattle on boats to consolidate trade opprtunities with markets in north Africa.

“Good progress has been made in reopening the Libyan market and we now need more boats and more exports. Another boat sailed last week to Libya with 1,500 bulls and up to 5,000 sheep,” said Mr Burns.

“Ireland has the best beef and cattle trade in the world on our doorstep in the UK market and we need to maximise the full potential of this market which is currently paying over €5.00/kg for cattle”.

The Food Harvest 2020 plan - Ireland’s agri-food vision for the future - has set beef production to rise to 40,000 cattle per week.

Mr Burns said that kill is only at 28,000 head because of the factories limiting slaughter.